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American Expats Survey: I Want Out

#americans#home#abroad

Found an interesting poll from early this year conducted by the Harris Poll, a market research company, on American sentiments regarding moving abroad. I thought pretty much every point in their top highlights section was worth mentioning, so I'm just copying the entire thing here:

  • The land of the not-so financially free: Over half of Americans (55%) are striving to achieve retirement and financial security, with just a fifth of Americans self-reporting securing this goal (21%).
  • Home sweet unattainable home: Less than half of Americans in 2024 have achieved home ownership (49%), with even fewer currently working towards this goal (32%). Skepticism towards making home ownership a reality is high, with 68% believing that owning a home is no longer attainable for the majority of citizens.
  • Living the dream…or dreaming of leaving: While just over half of Americans believe they can live a higher quality of life abroad (52%), better quality of life is a leading reason for Americans who want to stay or move out of the country.
  • Better work opportunities, but with high costs: 70% of Americans believe the U.S. is the most lucrative country for work however, 68% feel that they are surviving more than thriving. For those who have considered moving abroad, 49% cite lower costs as the primary reason for making the jump and 86% express “seeking a more affordable cost of living” as the most important factor.
  • Oh Canada: Americans name Canada as the most desirable country to move to, followed by other English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
  • The more (passports), the merrier: Roughly half of Americans (49%) express interest in obtaining or already possess dual citizenship. Among those looking for a second passport, freedom of travel (39%), access to benefits (27%), and exposure to another country’s culture (25%) are primary motivating factors.
  • Expat hacks wanted: Whether it’s connecting to trusted international realtors (81%), searching for accessible healthcare options (78%), or managing visa/citizenship applications (77%), Americans are eager for services that could make moving abroad a smooth and convenient process, with 60% even expressing willingness to pay.